Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-12-16

lneTt were the Greys on one SlQe-SuCh
nice, friendly girls-and the Lemans-
such quiet people-on the other Well,
l shall work my fower-beds over, sow
the rest of my seed, and if they are
scratched up again, ! shall retaliate by
purchasing dozen fowls and letting
them run in Mrs. Browns garden"
Bnt will that be showing the proper
spirit I" | asked. " You know the Bible
says ~
"Don't preach, If you please, Fam"
and Bess stopped up her ears, and began
humming lively tine. When Bess did
that, knew it was useless to argue the
matter further, SO the subject was
dropped.
1t was renewed, however, the next
day, when Bess found her fower-be
up-rooted by the pigs, and the geese
making havoc of her potted plants, one
old gander seeming to have a special
fondness for. some lily-buds that were
almost ready to open.
al shall not try any more" said Bess,
when she had stormed and wept by turns
for half an hour. "l'll le: the flower
beds go and turn my attention to con-
cocting all sorts of detestable buildings
and pies for your benefit, Fan. They'll
be certain to give you dyspepsia, and
then you'll wish you'd helped me to
raise flowers"
Now loved flowers as much as Bess
did, but was not willing to work in
the face of so many difficulties, and told
her so.
When summer came, and all around
us were pretty green lawns, vine-covered
porches and tlower-beds that gave out
the hues of the rainbow, our little plat
of ground was desolate save for the
pigs and chickens and geese that roamed
there at their own sweet will.
Even the grass refused to grow, except
in little patches, interspersed with weeds,
and the two cedar trees that stood by the
porch took on q dismal air, as if they
were ashamed to be seen growing there.
Bess kept her word, and turned her
attention to pie making. How sho
managed to endure the atmosphere of the
close kitchen was mystery to me; but
she resented my efforts to keep her in the
sitting-room, and treated Sally's ex-
postuIations with quiet distain. l think
she was really in earnest about learning
to cook, for she worked hard enough;
but her success was far less than her
merit.
"Bess, you must waste a lot of eggs"
I remarked one day severely, though 1
couldn't help laughing at the funny
looking object before me which Be8s
said was an egg custard.
ooh, eggs are cheapl" said Bess, gayly,
though her face flushed little as she
spoke.
81 really believe you make these pies
and buildings for the benefit of the
Chickens" said l, teasingly; "they usu-
ally eat them after we have looked at
themm
"You can make all the fun you want
to, but shall learn to be famous cook
yet" said Bess.
But before the summer was half gone
Bess paid dearly for those days in the
close little kitchen. A slow fever at
tac'Ied her, not at all alarming at first,
but gradually developing into typhoid
fever of a severe type, and l was com
pc led to give up my music class that I
might be constantly at her bedside.
Fortu ately had small sum of money
laid by, enough for our present need at
least, 50 was not obliged to apply to
Uncle Robert for assistance. In fact, |
determined not TO write to him at all,
unless Bess desired. knew his family
was at the seaside, and that he was alb
sorbed in important business matters, so
that if he ran down to see us it would
Inconvenience him much
The days that followed were trying
ones, and to make matters worse most of
our friends had left town Tor the summer,
and had to depend almost entirely upon
Sally, who, though ready and willing to
assist me, was obliged TO be in the kitch-
en- greater part of the time.
l saw the necessity of getting an ex-
perienced nurse at once, and concluded
to write to Uncle Robert and ask him to
procure me one, if possible, In Bird ge-
water.
Bess had been delirious for three days,
and | was almost beside myself with fear
and anxiety. l sat down, hurriedly
wrote my letter and was Just about to
seal it, when | became conscious of the
fact that some one had Just entered the
room
Looking up I saw Mrs. Brown, our
neighbor, standing by the bed, and gaz-
ing down at Bess who had fallen into a
tittul, troubled sleep.
'pve been a-wantin' to come ever
since your sister was took down. she
said, in a low tone, "but l was kinder
'fraid you wouldn't want me. We haint
been very neighborly, it's true; but if
there is anything | can do, I'll be glad
to do it. I'm a right smart hand at
nursin' sick folks, especially in fevers
like this"
was quite at loss what to say. l
thought of Bess and her strong dislike
for the woman, and wondered if her
presence in the sick room might not
make matters worse. Bess was so impul-
sive and frank spoken that ii she dis
liked any one she took no pains TO con-
ceal it, and it was very probable that
she would resent Mrs. Browns coming.
I" / am sure you are very kind, and I
thank you ever so much Mrs. Brown, "
faltered, at last. Then seeing her
face brighten at once, added, impul-
sively: Il shall be glad to have you help
me nurse my sister, if you will"
Whether Bess was conscious of who
watched beside her from that day on OF
not, could not tell, but it is certain
| that Mrs. Brown had q wonderful influ.
enee over her, and could quiet her when
no one else could, and that Bess chung to
her with childish fondness that was
very touching. At times, however, il
\ gave me paug of jealousy to have hel
turn from me to the arms OF the withered
old woman.
1t was wonderful how fast the dear
child improved, In fact, l dated the
! change for the better almost from tht